Farm4Profit Podcast

9 Advancements to Agriculture in the Last Decade

Episode Summary

Tanner and David review a list of 9 advancements we have made in the agricultural world in the last decade and share their thoughts.

Episode Notes

Agriculture and a decade of change

https://www.keyc.com/2020/01/01/agriculture-decade-change/?outputType=amp

By Alison Durheim | December 31, 2019 at 6:41 PM CST - Updated December 31 at 7:59 PM

  1. Machine Linking – Autonomy 
    1. auto steer on tractors and combines that were really pretty new at the beginning of the decade (2002) and now they’re pretty much standard procedures out there and now those advancements continue with combine automation, automatic grain carts, and synced machines
  2. Genetic improvement in crops and livestock also took the stage during the decade from rate of gains, to stand ability, and production potential.
  3. I don’t think most people realize that 40 percent of our 'ag’ exports were going to three countries, China, Mexico and Canada until the last couple years when we have trade issues with all three of those countries at the same time, and we definitely saw the impact it had on our grain and livestock markets,” said Thiesse.  However, we’ve opened up trade lanes with other countries until relationships repair
  4. While most markets saw continuous fluctuation in prices and cost of production throughout the decade, a new industry made leaps and bounds thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill.“Hemp has been something that, beginning of the decade was kind of a nasty word in most people’s mind, but by the end of the decade it’s now viewed as an alternative crop,” said Thiesse.
  5. Minimal tillage methods and the inclusion of cover crops have grown throughout the decade as farmers look to be stewards of the land and earth’s natural resources, and with trade talks and agreements rounding out the year, the decade is ending on a high note.
  6. The first iPad was released on April 3, 2010; the most recent iPad models are the seventh-generation iPad, released on September 25, 2019;
  7. In December 2015 the FAA announced that all UAVs weighing more than 250 grams flown for any purpose must be registered with the FAA and in December 2019, the FAA proposed a ruling requiring all unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to be equipped with a devise to identify them 
  8. The advancements of row crop farming practices moving to high-speed
    1. High Speed tillage with discs and vertical tillage
    2. Planting
    3. HorsePower
  9. Livestock production monitoring
    1. Feed rations – automation
    2. Animal ID cameras for habit learning
    3. Health and wellbeing
    4. Product sourcement – labeling